Bottle decorating apparatus



May 31, 1966 R. R. RUDOLPH ETAL 3,253,538

BQTTLE DECORATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 13,. 1964 ON OQmi .NE M ,m Y OH .Z E TP VT N f NLJ..U R EOZR O f VDWT H E n. mwns A dnt a t ELN MMM Nm, e o o o o o RCF @Nix \E wm N om vm Y7 vm B May 31,1966 R. R. RUDOLPH ETAL 3,253,538

BOTTLE DECORATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 15,. 1964 IOZFig. 6.

M ii" INVENTORS ROME R.RUDOLPH, CARL sTRUTz,.Jr. and

BY FRA K c. sTRuTz ATTORNEYl May 31, 1966 R. R. RUDOLPH ETAL 3,253,538

BOTTLE DECORATING APPARATUS Filed July 13, 1954 5 SheeS-Sheet l UnitedStates Patent O 3,253,538 BOTTLE DECORATING APPARATUS Rome R. Rudolph,Gibsonia, and Carl Strutz, Jr., and Frank C. Strutz, Mars, Pa.,assignors to Carl Strutz & Co., Inc., Valencia, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Filed July 13, 1964, Ser. No. 382,004 8 Claims. (Cl.101-40) This invention relates to bottle decorating apparatus, and moreparticularly to improvements in bottle decorating apparatus of theintermittent motion type.

As is known, bottle decorating apparatus of the intermittent motion typehave certain essential elements in common. These elements are: at leastone decorating device which includes at least one stationary decoratingsqueegee and an associated stencil screen; an endless conveyor mountedon a base with va portion thereof adapted to move along a straight-linepath of travel relative to the decorating device; sprockets at each endof the base engaged with the endless conveyor and about which theendless conveyor turns so as to reverse its direction of travel; aplurality of clamping devices secured at uniformly spaced points on theendless conveyor and adapted to support the workpieces in a horizontalposition during their travel through the machine; at least oneregistration station wherein the workpiece surface to be decorated isoriented with respect to the decorating device; and drive means forimparting intermittent traveling motion to the endless conveyor.

In conventional decorating machines of this type, each of the clampingdevices is moved from position to position and is brought to a completerest at each of the positions. When each of the clamping devices are ata decorating position, i.e., directly oppo-site to the squeegee means ofthe decorating device, the clamping device must be elevated toward thestencil screen, rotated during the decoration of the bottle, and thenlowered into its normal position prior to movementv to the nextposition.

yIn certain of t-hese conventional decorating apparatus, the halting,the elevating, the rotating and the lowering -of each of the clampingydevices is done sequentially. It

should Ebe evident then that a considerable amount of time is lost inperforming these operations.

In certain other conventional decorating machines of this type, whichare improvements over the aforementioned decorating machine, eachcl-amping device'is simultaneously elevated while being brought to acomplete stop at the decorating position, a driving member is engagedwith the base chuck for rotating the bottle during decoration. At thecompletion of the decorating process, -the driving member is disengagedfrom the base chuck and the clamping device is simultaneously loweredinto its normal position relative to the base while lbeing moved to thenext position. As can be seen, some operating time still is lost in thatthe driving member still must be engaged with and disengaged from thebase chuck. p

The lost operating time could be employed more proiitalbly in decoratingbottles. That is to say, if the lost time could be substantiallyentirely eliminated, the number of bottles which could be decorated ingiven length of time would be greater than in any of the conventionaldecorating apparatus.

ICC

Another disadvantage of these conventional decorating machines of thetype described, is that they are relatively expensive to purchase. Thepurchase cost is directly related to their size. .These conventionaldecorating machines have a predetermined number of the clampingassemblies mounted on the endless conveyor. A certain number of theseclamping assemblies always is moving along a horizontal, straightdinepath of travel. The length of the path of travel is determined by thespacing between the clamping assemblies. During the movement of eachclamping assemlbly along the path of travel, it is positioned at aloading station, a registration station, one or more decoratingstations, and an unloading station. Because of spacing problems, it hasheretofore been required that each station be separated by a certainnumber of the clamping assemblies. For example, the distance between theloading station and the registration station is equal to the spacingbetween at least three of the clamping devices. Likewise, the distancebetween the registration station and the tirst decorating station alsois equal to the spacing of at least three of the clamping devices.Further, the distance between the last decorating station and theunloading station is equal to the spacing between live to seven of theclamping devices depending on the length of the stencil screen. Thedistance between the decorating stations is always dictated by thelength of the stencil screen and therefore may not be changed.

In one embodiment of a conventionaly decorating machine of the typedescribed, the clamping devices were spaced at four-inch centers, thedecorating stations were twenty-four inches apart, the distance betweenthe registration station and the rst decorating station was 20 inches,the distance between the loading station and t-he registration stationwas 16 inches, while the distance between the last decorating stationand the unloading station was 36 inches. There were fifty-seven of thecl-amping devices secured to the endless conveyor. This decoratingmachine was greater than fteen feet in length.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to providedecorating apparatus of improved design.

Another object of the present invention is to provide decoratingapparatus of improved design wherein the number of clamping assembliesheretofore required has been reduced to a minimum whereby the cost ofthe decorating apparatus as well as its overall length have beensignificantly reduced.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide decoratingapparatus having a signiiicantly higher production rate than any of theconventional decorating apparatus heretofore available. In this respect,one or more colors and/or designs may be imprinted on the workpieces atarelatively high rate 0f speed.

A further object-of the present invention is to provide decoratingapparatus of the intermittent motion type having novel means forrotating the workpieces during their registration and decor-ation.

registration position and the first decorating position as well asbetween the rst and second decorating positions.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improveddecorating apparatus for applying decorative imprints to generallycylindrical workpieces, such as bottles. The present decoratingapparatus is of the intermittent motion type including a plurality ofclamping assemblies mounted at uniformly spaced points on an endlessconveyor supported for movement along a straight-line path of travel.Drive means is provided for imparting intermittent traveling motion tothe endless conveyor whereby each of the clamping assemblies is broughtto complete rest at a plurality of consecutive, spaced positions alongthe path of travel of the endless conveyor. The present decoratingapparatus also is provided with at least one decorating device .whichincludes a stationary squeegee and a movable stencil screen. In thedrawings accompanying this specification, the present decoratingapparatus is illustrated as having two decorating devices. IIt should beunderstood, however, that the principles disclosed in the presentinvention are applicable equally to decorating apparatus having one or aplurality of decorating devices.

The present decorating apparatus also is provided with transferapparatus which includes traveling clamping devices for transferringworkpieces individually, for example, from a feed location which isspaced from the endless conveyor to a loading position on said conveyor.Furthermore, a second transfer device is provided which also includestraveling clamping devices for transferring the decorated workpiecesfrom an unloading position on the endless conveyor to a dischargeconveyor which is spaced from the decorating apparatus.

The present decorating apparatus i-s further provided With a novel camtrack arrangement which extends around `the endless conveyor and isparallel therewith. Each of the clamping assemblies is operativelyconnected to the cam track. The cam track includes a plurali-ty ofsegments each of which is mounted for rotation yabout an axis parallelwith and preferably coincident with the -aXis Of rotation of theworkpiece carried by the clamping assembly. One cam track segment isprovided at the regis-tration position and at each ofthe decorationpositions. The arrangement is such, 4that each clamping assembly isbrought to a complete rest, for example, at the registering positionwhereupon the cam track segment disposed therein is rotated to rotatethe workpiece carried by the clamping assembly. After each workpiece hasbeen registered, its registered orientation with respect to the stencilscreen is maintained by the cam track, as will be described. v

In the present decorating apparatus, the workpieces are individuallyloaded on a clamping assembly which is disposed in a `first idleposition, that clamping assembly is moved to a second idle positionwhich comprises a register-ing position, and thereafter that clampingassembly is moved to a third idle position which comprises a rstdecorating position. Hence, the loading,.registering and rst decoratingof a workpiece is -accomplished within three consecutive positions ofthe supporting clamping assembly. That clamping assembly -then is movedto a second decorating position for the application of a second color orimprint on the workpiece. Thereafter that clamping assembly is moved toan unloading position where the decorated workpieces are picked up bythe second transfer device for discharge from the decorating apparatus.

As will become apparent later in the specification, each clampingassembly when in the first and second decorating positions is disposedperpendicular to the path of travel of the endless conveyor. However,each clamping assembly when at the loading position, the registeringposition and the unloading position, is inclined with respect to thehorizontal path of travel of the endless conveyor. Furthermore, thoseworkpieces which are disposed at the loading position, the registeringposition or the unloading position, are disposed below those workpiecesmoving along the horizontal straight-line path of travel of the endlessconveyor between the first and second decorating positions.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description vby reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a decorating apparatus constructed according-to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view schematically illustratinga drive means for imparting intermittent traveling motion to an endlessconveyor employed in the present decorating apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a drive train employed in thepresent decorating apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrat- -ing a cam trackassembly employed in rotating each Workpiece and for maintaining itsregistered orientation with respect to the stencil screen;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line V-V of FIG. 1,illustrating a clamping assembly employed in the present decoratingapparatus;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view, with portions cut away to showdetails, illustrating a rotatable cam track segment employed in rotatingthe workpieces during registration land decoration; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectivonal view, taken along the line VII- VII of FIG.5, illustrating a registering mechanism employed in the presentdecorating apparatus.

DECORATING APPARATUS-GENERAL DESCRIPTION Reference is now directed toFIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the present decorating apparatus is generallyindicated by the numeral 10. The `decorating apparatus 10 comprises abase 12 having a pair of opposed side plates 14 (only one visible) uponone end of which is rotatably mounted a pair of idler sprockets 15 andupon the other end of which is rotatably mounted a pair of drivesprockets 16. The pairs of sprockets 15, 16 are connected by shafts 17aand 17b, respectively. Extending between and around the sprockets 15, 16is an endless conveyor 18. A plurality of clamping assemblies 20 aresecured at .uniformly spaced points along the endless conveyor 18. Theendless conveyor 18 includes an upper reach 22 adapted to move along ahorizontal, straight-line path of travel between the sprockets 15, 16.Each of the clampmg assemblies 20 is adapted to support a workpiece 24for conveyance along the straight-line path of travel. As can be seen inFIG. 2, the decorating `apparatus 10 1s provided with a drive means 26which imparts intermittent traveling motion to the conveyor 18, i.e.,the conveyor 18 is advanced step-by-step, each step movement advancingthe conveyor the distance between the centers of two adjacent clampingassemblies 20. The drive means .26 1s supported on the base 12 at oneside of the decorat- -mg `apparatus 10.

The drive means 26 is conventional and comprises a cam and gear assembly32 having an input sha-ft 34 and an output shaft 36. The input shaft 34is driven at a constant r.p.m. while the output shaft 36 is drivenintermittently by means of the cam Iand gear assembly 32. The outputshaft 36 is connected in driving relation with the shaft 17b therebyimparting intermittent motion to the pair of sprockets 16 and theendless conveyor 18.

Referring again to FIG. l, the decorating apparatus 10 is provided withfirst and second decorating devices generally indicated by the numerals48 and 50. Each of the decorating devices 48, 50 includes a stationarysqueegee means 52 which is positioned along a horizontal arm 54 suitablymounted on the base 12. The stationary squeegee means S2 may compriseyany suitable squeegee and preferably comprises that squeegee meansdescribed and shown in copending application Ser. No. 262,714, filedMar.

4, 1963 and assigned to the assignee of the present application. Each ofthe first and second decorating devices, additionally includes lastencil screen S6 mounted lfor reciprocable horizontal movement. Themechanism employed for reciprocating the stencil screens 56 isconventional in the a-r-t yand may comprise, for example, that mechanismshown and described in U.S. Patent No. 2,231,535. For the purposes ofthe present invention, however, 'it will be sufficient to state that thestencil screen 56, for example, associated with the first decoratingdevice 48 will be moved to Ithe left of FIG. 1 into the positionindicated in dotted outline at 56' during the decoration of one of theworkpieces 24. During the decoration of the next-workpiece, the stencilscreen -is moved to lthe right of FIG. 1 from the position indicated at456 to the position indicated in full lines at 56. Furthermore, itshould be understood that during the decorating operation of theapparatus 10, both of the stencil screens 56 are moved in unison to theleft, and then to the right of FIG.A 1.

The present decorating apparatus 10 also is provided with first andsecond transfer mechanisms generally indicated by the numerals 58 land60. The first transfer mechanism 58 is employed in transferring thebottles 24 from a feed conveyor, schematically illustrated at 62, to aclamping assembly 20 which is disposed in a predetermined position withrespect to the first decorating device 48, as wil-l be described. Thesecond transfer mechanism i60 is employed in transferring decoratedbottles 64 from one of the clamping assemblies disposed in apredetermined position with respect to the second decorating device 50,yas will be described, to a discharge conveyor schematically illustrated:at `66. The first and second transfer mechanisms 58, 60 include a driveshaft 68, 70, respectively, which supplies the power for their opera`tion.

The present decorating apparatus is additionally provided with a camtrack assembly 72 with which each of the clamping assemblies 20 isoperatively connected. The cam track assembly 72 extends parallel withthe path of travel of the endless conveyor 18. As will be more fullydescribed later in the specification, the cam track assembly 72 includesa plurality of rotatable cam track segments which serve to rotate theworkpieces 24 during their registration and their decoration.

-Reference is now directed to FIG. 3 wherein there is schematicallyillustrated a driving train 74 employed in the present decoratingapparatus 10. It should be understood at this time that the drivingtrain 74, as illustrated in FIG. 3, shows only the various drivecomponents required by the present decorating apparatus and that theirpositions, relative to one another are actually not as shown. Thedriving train 74 includes a main drive motor 76 which is operativelyconnected to a variable speed reducer 78. The variable speed reducer 78is, in turn, operatively connected to and drives a main drive shaft 80.At each end of the main drive shaft 80, there is provided a set of mitergears 82, 84 which connect the main drive shaft to fixed ratio speedreducers 86, 88. The speed reducer 86 is connected to the rst transfermechanism 58 (FIG. l) by means of the drive shaft 68, while the speedreducer 88 is connected to the second transfer mechanism 60 (FIG. 1) bymeans of the drive shaft 70. Also connected to the main drive shaft 80,by means of a chain drive 90* is lthe drive means 26 which, as describedabove, serves to impart intermittent traveling motion to the endlessconveyor 18. Operatively connected to the drive shaft 80 are first andsecond screen drives 92, 94. The first screen drive 92 serves toreciprocate the screen 56 associated with the first decorating device 48(FIG. 1) while the second screen drive 94 serves to reciprocate thestencil screen 56 of the second decorating device 50 (FIG. 1).Alternatively, a single screen drive may be used to reciprocate both ofthe stencil screens 56 of the first and second decorating devices 48,50.

Inspection of FIG. 3 will reveal that the sp'eed reducers 86, 88, thefirst and second screen drives 92, 94, and the conveyor-drive means 26operate in synchronism. The variable speed reducer 78 provides a meansby which the speeds of operation of the drive means 26, the variablespeed drives 86, 88, and the first and second screen drives 92, 94 maybe varied in unison to increase or decrease the production rate of thedecorating apparatus 10.

`CLA-MPING ASSEMBLIES 20 Reference is now directed to FIG. 5 whereinthere is illustrated one of the clamping assemblies 20. As can be seen,each of the .clamping assemblies 20 includes a crossplate 96 having abase chuck 98 and a neck chuck 100 secured at opposite ends thereof. Thebase chuck 98 includes la shaft 102 which is supported for rotationabout a horizontal axis which is coincident with the rotational axis,indicated by the dashed-dot line 104, of the workpiece 24. Secured tothe inboard end of the shaft 102 is a base cup 106 adapted to engage thebottom of the workpiece 24.

The neck chuck 100 is provided with a shaft 108 which is supported forreciprocal movement axially of the rotational axis 104. At the inboardend of the shaft 108 there is secured a neck cup 110 adapted to engagethe neck of the workpiece 24. The neck cup 110, shown in full lines, isin a clamping position while the neck cup also is illustrated in dottedoutline at 110 in a retracted position. The neck chuck 100 preferablycomprises that neck chuck shownv and described in copending applicationSer. No. 356,198, filed Mar. 31, 1964, and assigned to the assignee ofthe present invention. For the purposes of the present invention,however, it will be sufficient to state that the neck chuck 100 ispneumatically operated and includes conduits 112, 114 extending from theneck chuck 100 to a valve means 116. Associated with the shaft 108 is apiston (not shown) which is housed within the neck chuck 100. Inoperation, the conduit 112 serves to introduce fluid under pressure onone side of the piston to displace the neck cup 110 into engagement withtthe workpiece 24. Conversely, fiuid introduced on the opposite side ofthe piston by the conduits 14 displaces the neck cup 110 away from theworkpiece 24 into the position illustrated at 110.

The valve means 116 includes a valve operator 118 which controls theintroduction of fluid into either of the conduits 112, 114. The valveoperator 118 includes an actuating arm 120 which, when displaced in thedirection indicated by the arrow 122, will cause the fluid underpressure to be introduced into the conduit 112. Conversely, when theactuating arm 120 is displaced in a direction indicated by the arrow124, air is introduced through the conduit 114. The actuating arm 120preferably is spring-biased in a vertical position illustrated in FIG.5. Hence, cam means (not shown) may be provided at the loading andunloading positions of the decorating apparatus 10 one of which actuatesthe valve means 116 for clamping of a workpiece 24 between the neck cupand the base cup 106 and the other of which actuates the valve -means116 for releasing the workpiece 24 from the clamping device 20.

Each crossplate 96 of each of the clamping devices 20 is connected' tothe endless conveyor 18 by means of chain segments 126. As will be morefully described later in the specification, the workpiece 24 carried byeach of the clamping assemblies 20, when in the first or seconddecorating position, is disposed very near the stencil screen 56. Afterthe workpiece 24 has been decorated, the clamping assembly 20 is movedto the next position whereupon the entire cla-mping assembly is lowered.The lowering of each clamping assembly is limited by the engagement cfthe chain segments 126 with the inwardly extending flanges 128 of theside plates 14. The lowering of each of the clamping assemblies 20 afterthe workpiece 24 has been decorated at the first Referring again to FIG.1, the first and second transfer mechanisms 58, 60 preferably comprisethat transfer mechanism described and illustrated in copendingapplication Ser. No. 382,005, filed July 13, 1964, and assigned to theassignee of the present invention. The operation of the first and secondtransfer mechanisms 58, 60 is identical with that operation disclosed inthe aforesaid copending application Ser. No. 382,005. For the purpose ofthe present invention, however, it will be sufcient to state that eachof the first and second transfer mechanisms 58, 60 includes fourtraveling clamping devices 146a-146d. The traveling clamping devices146a of both transfer mechanisms 58, 60, are hidden from view since theyare directly behind clamping device 146C. The traveling clamping devices146:1, as illustrated in FIG. 1, are positioned adjacent to the feedconveyor 62 and the discharge conveyor 66. The traveling clampingassemblies 146a-146d are equiangularly spaced about the carrier 148 andare supported thereon for reciprocal movement parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the carrier 148. Further, the carrier 148 issupported for rotation about its longitudinal axis, illustrated by thedash-dot line at 149. A drive mechanism 150 serves to rotate the carrier148 as Well as reciprocate the traveling clamping devices 146a-146d.

In operation, the carrier 148 is rotated intermittently through 90 ofmovement by means of a conventional Geneva drive. Simultaneously withthe intermittent rotation of the carrier 148, the traveling clampingdevices 146a-146d are moved continuously back and forth along a pathparallel to the longitudinal axis of the carrier 148. The relativepositions of the traveling clamping devices 146a-146d with respect toone another is illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, in the first transfermechanism 58 the traveling clamping device 146a (not visible) isdisposed on one side of the carrier 148 and at a midpoint thereon. Thetraveling clamping device 146b is disposed at the top of the carrier 148and at the forward end thereof adjacent to the endless conveyor 18. Thetraveling clamping device 146e1 is disposed on the side of the carrier148 opposite tothe traveling clamping device 146er, and at a midpoint onthe carrier 148. The traveling clamping device 146d is disposed beneaththe carrier 148 and at the end of the carrier 148 opposite the travelingclamping device 146b. The position of the traveling clamping devices146b-146d relative to one another of the second transfer mechanism 60 isidentical to that of the first transfer mechanism 58. Consequently, whenthe traveling clamping device 146a is moved from that positionillustrated on the first transfer mechanism 58 to the position nowoccupied by the traveling clamping device 14611, the traveling clampingdevice 146 undergoes (l) linear movement toward the decorating apparatus(2) simultaneous linear movement toward the decorating apparatus 10 androtational movement about the longitudinal axis of the carrier 148; and(3) linear movement toward the decorating apparatus 10 to arrive at theposition now occupied by the traveling clamping device 146b.

Each of the traveling clamping devices 146a-146d clamps one of theworkpieces 24 fed thereto by means of the feed conveyor 62 when they arein the position of the clamping device 14651 of the iirst transfermechanism 58. Notice that the workpiece 24 is oriented in a verticalposition. Thereafter, the traveling clamping devices will move to thatposition now occupied by the traveling clamping device 146b. In thisposition, the clamping device releases the workpiece 24 which now isoriented horizontally, so that it may be transferred to and clamped byone of the clamping assemblies 20. For a complete description of theconstruction and operation of the rst and second transfer mechanisms 58,60, reference is directed to the aforementioned copending applicationSer. No. 382,005.

OPERATIONAL POSITIONS OF THE CLAMIING ASSEMBLIES 20 Indicated in FIG. 1,are five positions wherein the clamping assemblies 20 are operative.These positions are indicated by dash-dot lines which are labeled andnumbered as follows: a loading position 152, a registering position 154,a first decorating position 156, a second decorating position 158 and anunloading position 160. As should be evident, the workpieces 24 areloaded onto one of the clamping assemblies 20 at the loading position152 and thereafter are moved, in order, to the registering position 154wherein they are registered with respect to the stencil screens 56; thelirst and second decorating positions 156, 158 wherein, for example, twocolors -of a decorative imprint are applied to the workpieces; and thenmoved to the unloading position 160 wherein the decorated bottles 64 aretransferred from the clamping assemblies 20 to the discharge conveyor66.

It is important to note that in the decorating apparatus 10, theclamping assemblies 20 are perpendicular to the horizontal path oftravel of the upper reach 22 of the endless conveyor 18 when theclamping assemblies 20 are disposed at the rst and second decoratingpositions 156, 158 or at positions therebetween. Furthermore, when eachof the Iclamping assemblies 20 are positioned at the loading position152, the registering position 154, Iand the unloading position 160, areinclined or langularly disposed with respect to the horizontal path oftravel of the upper reach 22 of the endless conveyor 18. Thus, loading,registering, and unloading of the workpieces occurs at the positionswhich are beneath the positions of those workpieces disposed at the rstand second decorating positions 156, 158 or at points therebetween. Itis also important to note, that the loading, the registering land rstdecorating of each of the workpieces 24 occurs at consecutive positionsin the step-by-step movement of the clamping assemblies 20. As describedabove, it was heretofore necessary to provide a plurality of theclamping assemblies between the loading position and the registeringposition as well as a second plurality of the clamping assembliesbetween the registering position and the irst decorating position. Itwas likewise necessary, heretofore, to provide a plurality of theclamping assemblies between the second decorating position and theunloading position. However, in the present decorating -apparatus onlyone clamping assembly is necessary between the second decoratingposition 158 and the unloading position 160. Accordingly, the length ofthe endless conveyor 18 of the present decorating apparatus 10 has beenreduced considerably. Furthermore, the number of clamping assembliesrequired has also been considerably reduced. For example, the decoratingapparatus 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 employs twenty of the clampinglassemblies 20 whereas in a similar decorating apparatus constructed inaccordance with the prior art must of necessity employ fifty-seven ofthe clamping devices. The above stated numbers are based on the clampingdevices being spaced at four-inch centers and the first and seconddecorating positions 156, 158 being spaced by twenty-four inchescenter-to-center.

Another advantage of the present decorating apparatus 10 over the priorart decorating apparatus, is that in the present decorating apparatus10, the first and second transfer mechanisms 58, 60 may be operated toload and discharge two-hundred workpieces or bottles per minute. Hence,the speed of operation of the present decorating apparatus is limitedonly by the speed with which the iirst and second decorating devices 48,50 may decorate the workpieces. With the advent of thermoresponsivecoloring mediums, the speed of decorating the workpieces has beentremendously increased. In these thermoresponsive coloring mediums, thepigmented materials are carried in thermoresponsive vehicles which, whenheated above room temperature, are of thin, paste-like consistency,ideally suited for screen stencil work, but which freeze or solidifyimmediately upon being applied to the relatively -cooler surfaces of theworkpieces which are at room temperature.

Broadly then, the present invention provides a decorating apparatuswhich is relatively inexpensive to manufacture in that the overalllength of the vconveyor has been considerably reduced from that lengthheretofore required. Furthermore, the operating speed of the presentdecorating apparatus 10 is significantly greater than the operatingspeeds of the decorating apparatus heretofore available.

REGISTRATION Registration of each of the workpieces 24 is accomplishedat the registering position 154. The mechanism for registering theworkpieces 24 is illustrated in FIG. 7. This mechanism is conventionaland may comprise, for example, a registration linger 161 which is movedinto engagement with the `outer surface of the workpieces 24 by means ofa pneumatic piston 162. As is conventional in the art, a lug 163 isformed or cast in the workpiece at a suitable location. The lug 163facilitates precise locating of the workpiece 24 with respect to thestencil screen 56 for registration of single or successive decorativeimprints. Hence, when the workpiece 24 is rotated, as will be described,the lug 163 is moved into engagement with the registration finger 161whereupon the workpiece 24 is prevented from further rotation. As can bevseen in FIG. l, the pneumatic piston 162 is positioned so that theregistration finger 161 is displaced toward the workpieces 24 in thedirection of travel of the endless conveyor 18. This position ispreferred, since, the registration nger 161 can be retractedsimultaneously with moving the endless conveyor 18 through its nextstepwise movement. Hence, no lost time is incurred in first retractingthe registration finger 161 and then moving the endless conveyor, as isthe case in conventional decorating apparatus.

CAM TRACK ASSEMBLY 72 Reference is now directed to FIG. 4 wherein thecam track assembly 72 is schematically illustrated, The cam trackassembly 72 comprises a plurality of stationary cam track segments 164and a plurality of rotatable cam track segments 166a-166c. The cam tracksegments 164, 166rz-166c cooperate to define a guideway extending parallel to the path of travel of the clamping assemblies 20 i (FIG. 5).Hence, the rotatable cam track segments 166a-166c form continuations ofthe stationary cam track segments 164 and are normally positioned in-alignment therewith, as illustrated in FIG. 4, during the intermittentmovement of the endless conveyor 18. The stationary i cam track.segments 164 and the rotational cam track segments 166a-166c preferablyare channel-shaped l whereby they are adapted to receive cam followersas will be described.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the rotatable cam track segment 166a ispositioned at the registering position 154 and is rotatable about anaxis which is parallel with and preferably coincident with therotational axis 104 (FIG. 5) of the workpiece 24. The rotatable camtrack segment 166e is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, asindicated `by the arrow, by means of a suitable drive motorschematically illustrated at 168. Similarly, the rotatable camtracksegments 166b and 166C are positioned, respectively, at the first andsecond decorating positions 156, 158. The rotatable cam track segments166b and 166C, each is rotatable about an axis which is parallel withand preferably coincident with the rotational axis 104 (FIG. 5) of theworkpieces 24. The rotatable cam track segments 166b and 166e arerot-ated rotation of the workpiece 24.

piece 24 is registered or properly oriented with respect.

y10 simultaneously in a clockwise direction and then in acounterclockwise direction by means of a drive motor schematicallyillustrated at and a suitable shafting arrangement schematicallyillustrated at 172.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the base chuck 98 of each of theclamping assemblies 20 has associated therewith a cam follower or roller176 which is rotatably connected to one end of a lever arm 178. Thelever arm 178 is connected at its other end to the outboard end of theshaft 102 of the base chuck 98. Hence, as can be seen in FIG. 5,rotation of the lever arm 178 will cause rotation of the workpiece 24.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the clamping assembly 20 is shown positioned inalignment with one of the rotatable cam track segments 166 which maycomprise either of the rotatable cam track segments V166a-166c of FIG.4. As explained above, the rotatable cam track segment 166 is rotated bymeans of the drive motor 168 or 170. As can best be seen in FIG. 6,rotation of the rotatable cam track segment 166 will cause rotation ofthe arm 178 as well as the workpiece 24. It will be evident byinspection of FIG. 5, that although it is preferred that the rotationalaxis of the cam track segment 166 be coincident with the rotational axis104 of the workpiece 24, this need not be the case, since, duringrotation of the cam track segment 166 the cam follower 176 is free toroll within the C-shaped recess of the cam track seg- .ment 166. Hence,misalignments of about one-eighth of an inch can be tolerated withoutseriously affecting the transfer of the decorative imprints to theworkpiece 24.

OPERATION For the purpose of a fuller understanding of the operation oflthe present decorating apparatus 10, a single workpiece will bedescribed during its travel from the feed conveyor 62 through thedecorating apparatus 10 and to the discharge conveyor 66.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the first and second transfer mechanisms 58, 60are operated continuously during the operation of the present decoratingapparatus 10. That is to say, each of the traveling clamping devices146a- 146d will undergo movement from a point midway on the carrier 148and adjacent to the feed conveyor 62 to that position now occupied bythe clamping device 146b; there-after to .that position now occupied bythe clamping device 146C; thereafter to that position now occupied bythe clamping device 146d; and finally Ito return to a position directlyopposite to the clamping device 146C.

The first transfer mechanism 158 will pick up one of the workpieces 24from the feed conveyor 62 and transfer it to the loading position 152.Simultaneously, the workpiece 24 will be reoriented from a verticalposition when on the feed conveyor 62 to a horizontal position when atthe loading position 152. The workpiece 24, when disposed at the loadingposition 152, will be clamped between the bottom chuck 98 and the neckchuck 100 of the clamping assembly 20. The transfer of :the workpiece 24between the clamping device 146b, for example, to the clamping assembly20 will occur during a pause in the intermittent motion of the endlessconveyor 18.

During the next stepwise movement ofthe clamping assembly 20, theworkpieces will be moved =to the registering position 154. At theregistering position 154, the pneumatic piston 162 will be activated todisplace the registration finger 161 into engagement with the outersurface of the workpiece 24. Thereafter, the drive motor 168 will beactivated to rotate the rotatable cam track segment 166a whereupon 'theworkpiece 24 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction through exactly360. During rotation of the workpiece 24, the lug 163 (FIG. 7) willengage the registration finger 161 to prevent further In this position,the workto the stencil screen 56.

During the next stepwise movement of the endless conveyor 18, theregistered workpiece 28 will be moved) from the registering position 154to the rst decorating position 156. Notice, however, that the roller 176rolls within and is guided by the C-shaped recess of the cam tracksegments 164, 166. Hence, the registry of each workpiece 24 ismaintained. As can be seen in FIG. l, the surface of a workpiece to bedecoratedis moved into Iclose proximity with the stencil screen 56.Hence, in the present decorating device 10, the pair of sprockets 15comprise means for displacing each of the clamping assemblies toward thefirst decorating device 48. During the pause in the intermittent travelof the endless conveyor 18, the pneumatic squeegee 52 is activated tolower the squeegee 180 into contact wit-h the stencil screen 56.Thereafter, the stencil screen 56 is moved to the left of FIG. l intothe dotted outline position indicated at 56'. The drive motor 170 (FIG.4) is activated-operating in synchronism with the screen drives-torotate the rotatable cam track segment 166b and the workpiece in acounterclockwise direction through exactly 360. Hence, in effect, theworkpiece rolls over the screen 56 during its passage across theworkpiece.

After completion of the decorating operation at the first decoratingposition 156 the partially decorated workpiece 24 is moved step-by-stepto the second decorating position 158. It should be noted that when theworkpiece is moved from the first decorating position 156 to thenext'adjacent position, the clamping assembly 20 is lowered so that thechain segments 126 engage the inwardly extending flange 128 (FIG. 5) ofthe side plates 14. The lowering of the clamping assemblies 20 isnecessary in order to prevent inadvertent smearing of the imprintapplied by the first decorating device 48 during the subsequent lateraltravel of the stencil screens 56.

When the partially decorated workpiece reaches the second decoratingposition 158, the clamping assembly 20 upon which it is supported iselevated whereby the surface of the partially decorated workpiece isagain positioned close to the stencil screen 56 of the second decoratingdevice 50. Hence, the pair of drive sprockets 16 comprises means fordisplacing each of the clamping devices toward the second decoratingdevice 50. During the pause in the intermittent traveling motion of theendless conveyor 18, the pneumatic squeegee 52 is activated to lower thesqueegee 180 into contact with the stencil screen 56. Thereafter, thestencil screen 56 is moved laterally across the workpiece for transfer,for example, of a second color of the decorative imprint applied to theworkpiece. The drive motor 70 (FIG. 4) is again activated-operating insynchronism with the screen drivesto rotate the rotatable cam tracksegment 166e` and the workpiece through exactly 360 in a clockwise or acounterclockwise direction, depending on the direction in which thestencil screen 56 is moved.

At the completion of the decorating operation at the second decoratingposition 158, the completely decorated workpiece is moved in a stepwisefashion to the unloading position 160 wherein one of t-he travelingclamping devices 146a-146d is positioned vto clamp the completelydecorated workpiece. Simultaneous with the clamping of the workpiece byone of the traveling clamping devices 146a-146d, the, valve means 116 isactivated to retract the neck chuck 110 thereby releasing the workpiece24 from the clamping assembly 20. The transfer of the completelydecorated workpiece from the clamping assembly 20 to one of t-hetraveling clamping devices 146a- 146d is accomplished during a pause inthe intermittent traveling motion of the endless conveyor 18. Thecompletely decorated workpiece then is transferred from the unloadingposition 160 to the discharge conveyor 66. It should be noted that thecompletely decorated workpiece is reoriented from its horizontalposition when on the clamping assembly 20 t-o a vertical position whendeposited on the discharge conveyor 66.

Although the invention has been illustrated in connection with onespecific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes in form and arrangement of parts to suitrequirements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In decorating apparatus wherein workpieces undergo intermittenttraveling motion along a path of travel and are brought to complete restat points along said path of travel, said workpieces being rotated abouttheir central axes at at least one predetermined one of said points, thecombination comprising: cam followers, one each connected with each ofsaid workpieces for rotation therewith; guideway means comprising aplurality of aligned cam track segments extending parallel with Isaidpath of travel for receiving and guiding said cam Ifollowers; one ofsaid ycam track segments being positioned at said predetermined one ofsaid points and supported for rotation about an axis parallel with thecentral axis of said workpiece; and means for rotating said one of saidsegments during pauses in the intermittent traveling motion of saidworkpieces.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including means forsupporting said cam followers in radially spaced relation relative tosaid central axes.

3. In decorating apparatus for `applying decorative imprints toworkpieces, said apparatus having endless conveyor means supported formovement along a path of `trave-l, a registration station at which saidworkpieces are registered and at least one decorating station at whichsaid decorative imprints are applied to said workpieces, a plurality ofclamping assemblies secured to said endless conveyor each having a neckchuck and a base chuck adapted to support one of said workpieces forrotation about its central axis, and drive means for impartingintermittent traveling motion to said endless conveyor means wherebyeach of said clamping assemblies is brought to complete 'rest at aplurality of positions along said path of travel, one of said positionsbeing aligned with said registration station and another of saidpositions being aligned with said decorating station, the improvement inmeans for rotating said workpieces when at each of said stationscomprising: cam followers, one each connected with each of saidworkpieces; guideway means extending parallel to said path of travel forreceiving and guiding said cam followers, said guideway means includingfirst and second rotatably supported segments, one each residing at saidregistration station and said decorating station; said first and secondsegments being positioned to receive each of said cam followers andbeing rotatable about axes parallel with the central axes of saidworkpieces; and means for rotating said first and second segments duringpauses in Ithe intermittent traveling motion of said endless conveyor.

h 4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said registration station andsaid decorating station are disposed at consecutive ones of saidpositions at which said workpieces are brought to complete rest.

5. The improvement of claim 3 including means for displacing each ofsaid clamping assemblies toward said decorating device simultaneouslywith bringing each of said clamping assemblies to complete rest oppositeto said decorating device.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein said means comprises sprocketssupporting said endless conveyor.

7. In workpiece decorating apparatus wherein workpieces are conveyedalong a path of travel and are rotated about their central axes at atleast one position along said path of travel, the combinationcomprising: cam followers, one connected to each of said workpieces forrotation therewith; guideway Imeans engaged by said cam followers forguiding the salme, said guideway means comprising a plurality of alignedcam track segments extending parallel with said path of travel, one ofsa"d cam track segments being positioned at said one L' sition and being13 supported for rotation about a rotational axis parallel with saidcentral axes; said cam followers bein-g guided su'ccessively into torquetransmitting relation with said one of said cam track segments; andmeans for rotating said one of said cam track segments when engaged byeach successive one of said workpieces.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said cam tracksegments are aligned to form a continuous track and wherein said camfollowers are continuously enga-ged with said cam track segments.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Jackson et al101-124 X Campbell et al. lOl-38X Hagerman 101-126 Cookson lOl-38

1. IN DECORATING APPARATUS WHEREIN WORKPIECES UNDERGO INTERMITTENT TRAVELING MOTION ALONG A PATH OF TRAVEL AND ARE BROUGH TO COMPLETE REST AT POINTS ALONG SAID PATH OF TRAVEL, SAID WORKPIECES BEING ROTATED ABOUT THEIR CENTRAL AXES AT AT LEAST ONE PREDETERMINED ONE OF SAID POINTS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: CAMS FOLLOWERS, ONE EACH CONNECTED WITH EACH OF SAID WORKPIECES FOR ROTATION THEREWITH; GUIDEWAY MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ALIGNED CAM TRACK SEGMENTS EXTENDING PARALLEL WITH SAID PATH OF TRAVEL FOR RECEIVING AND GUIDING SAID CAM FOLLOWERS; ONE 